Editors Note:

EDITOR'S NOTE: Fresh off a three year managerial stint, your friendly neighborhood lenslinger is back on the street and under heavy deadline. As the numbing effects of his self-imposed containment wear off, vexing reflections and pithy epistles are sure to follow...

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Kevin Johnson: Towering Still

I look UP to Kevin Johnson - and not just because he's six and a half feet tall. No, the local news photog who launched a globally known website has impressed me simply by the way he handles his business, from providing an on-line watering hole for TV photogs to backing that concept up with free beer and fellowship at his annual b-roll bash. Thrice now I've attended that event and I always come away nursing a righteous hangover and a great deal of respect for the towering figure with the unending grin and suitcase full of free t-shirts. But Kevin's influence on news-makers goes well beyond the logowear he foists on tipsy photogs every year. His core creation, b-roll.net, has provided an invaluable source of information and empathy for a group of people unaccustomed to feelings of community. And he's down it all without ever beating his chest about it. No heroic portraits, glowing profiles or extended self-exams litter his site. Instead you'll only find a vibrant community of seasoned pros and neophytes, riffing on the biz from every angle while taking shelter in the house that Kev built. You'd think a guy like that might lord his influence over his minions...

But you'd be wrong.

Back when the web was stilled called things like 'the information superhighway', a vital pit-stop popped up on the horizon. B-roll.net, a website named for an old film term, offered TV insider tips and tricks as well as a fledgling message board. That 'board' provided a forum like no other, a cyber-spot where veteran staffers, freelancers and an endless parade of wide-eyed rookies could swap war stories and stroke their egos. Perhaps that last part spoke to me, for soon I was contributing grist and calling myself 'Lenslinger'. Kevin liked my stories and he told me so. That early encouragement led me to believe there might be something there and I found myself writing more and more. Long before the word 'blog' ever crossed my mind, Lenslinger sprung to life on an industry message board that suddenly everyone was reading. Quite simply, b-roll.net changed my life for the better. When I met Kevin a couple of years later in D.C., my goal was to thank him. But a few minutes in his company left me less focused on the website and more impressed with the man. Like I said, Kevin's impossibly tall with a rich baritone and unassuming manner. The way he dodged praise and deflected credit told me a lot about the guy and over the next few years we both enjoyed knocking back a cocktail or two in the name of news. Across the country and beyond our shores, other photogs benefited from his energy as well - even those who've never come close to meeting him.

Which is why Monday's news of Kevin's heart attack was so hard to process.

When word broke that the patron saint of photogs everywhere was in critical condition at George Washington University Hospital, a nation full of crusty bastards reeled in disbelief. Kev's a young guy, seemingly fit and bereft of the bad habits that plague so many camera junkies. While that's not enough to guarantee good health, it seemed impossible that our towering benefactor is in any way down. But he is. Which is why I'm asking you to summon up any prayers, good vibrations and positive energy you have in you and direct it to our nation's capital, where a lanky leader of a thousand crusty souls could really use the help. Kevin Johnson has elevated our profession in a most unassuming way. He's provided a gathering spot, allowed others to shine and made our fractious world of newsrooms, live trucks and crime scenes a good deal more bearable. Right now his lovely wife Clare is holding up strong and I hope she knows a nation of news shooters has her back. As for Kevin, here's hoping all that good karma he's created will visit him tenfold. Get better, Kevin. We ain't done yet.

UPDATE! Kevin's wife Clare just reported that Kevin is awake! Kevin experienced a dramatic and wonderful period of responsiveness this evening. The medical staff temporarily reduced the level of paralytics and Kevin began to move, opened his eyes and was clearly aware. It is too early to say what this means for Kevin's recovery, but it is safe to say there was loud and tearful rejoicing on the fourth floor ICU at GW.

UPDATE!! After 48 hours of somber visits with doctors and far more questions than answers, the doctors have told Kevin's wife Clare that they are, "preparing for the best possible outcome." The medical team is being very cautious and there is a lot they still don't know about Kevin's condition, the damage done by the cardiac arrest, and how his recovery will progress from here, but they said, "It's a really good starting point." The neurological team will begin to assess Kevin as early as today and doctors have mentioned the possibility of removing Kevin's breathing tube.

UPDATE!!! The family got their first glimpse of the old Kevin on Sunday. Kevin is having CONVERSATIONS with everyone, seems to recognize them, and has…A SENSE OF HUMOR! Now that’s signature Kevin! Less than a week after doubtful doctors were trying to prepare the family for the worst, Kevin is proving them wrong with the best progress anyone could have imagined at this point.

UPDATE!!!! One week after he was first rushed to George Washington University Hospital, Kevin was able to sit in a chair! He has a lovely view from the 4th floor of the ICU and has spent much of the day near the window looking out at the courtyard and trees. Kevin recognizes his visitors, engages them in conversation, and is cracking jokes. He remains weak and sleepy, but is a sight for sore eyes to Clare, their family, and the friends that surround him. Kevin is getting his first nourishment courtesy of a feeding tube and relished his first ice chips today! Doctors want to make sure he can safely swallow before we start bringing him chicken nuggets - one of his faves! Tomorrow Kevin will have an exploratory procedure to assess the condition of his heart and surgeons may implant a portable defibrillator in Kevin's chest. Weeks of recovery and rehab lie ahead, but the incredible and consistent strides Kevin is making every day continue to astound us all.

UPDATE!!!!! Clare reports both the heart catheter to look for blockages or problems in Kevin's heart (none found!) and the placing of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator or ICD in Kevin's chest went well today. Neurological testing continues and, while hearing Kevin talk and joke is comforting and a cause for celebration, it could be some time before the extent of the damage and the potential for a full recovery will be known. There is still a long road ahead and the family appreciates your support and well wishes as Kevin continues to recover.

UPDATE!!!!!! Kevin truly is an overnight sensation! *Clare reports a lot of progress since yesterday: Kevin has been moved from the ICU to the cardiac unit, one floor down. He is eating solid food - and what a feast it was: apple sauce, mac and cheese and a turkey sandwich! And he's been sitting in the chair again. And...drumroll, please...Kevin isn't connected to any machines! Kevin will try walking for the first time tomorrow and doctors say he could be heading home by next week. Another great day at GW for Kevin and Clare - who deserves special mention here: With the exception of going home for a few hours of restless sleep each night, Clare has been by Kevin's side since the moment he collapsed. From holding his hand those first awful days, to comforting him as he regained consciousness, to greeting and consoling his visitors and answering countless emails and phone calls - she has been there. From calling 911 and performing CPR to planning for his rehab, Clare, too, has been through an incredible ordeal and will also need time to heal, recover, and readjust. She is included in our prayers and well wishes, as are Kevin's mother and father, his brother and sister-in-law, and his mother-in-law and father-in-law.

Nathaniel Hawthorne...

"Easy reading is damn hard writing."

The views and opinions expressed within this blog are those of Stewart Pittman aka Lenslinger, NOT his employer, his friends, or even his wife at times. Viewfinder Blues, Lenslinger and All Original Material Copyright 2004-2012 by Stewart Pittman, who sincerely thanks you for visiting...